Seal for cars, &amp;c.



No. 765,766. PATBNTED JULY 26, 1904. L. J. CAMPBELL. SEAL FOR CARS, 8w.

7 APPLICATION FILED OOT.19, 1903. H0 MODEL.

fl I m (2 UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904.

LEON J. CAMPBELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SEAL FOR CARS, 80c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,766, dated July 26,1904.

Application filed October 19. 1903. Serial No. 177,696. (No model.)

To (l/ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEON J. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Seals for Cars and otherPurposes, of which the following, when taken in connection with thedrawings accompanying and forming a part heigeof, is a full and completedescription sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to which itpertains to understand, make, and use the same.

This invention relates to the class of seals which are designed to beused once to close or seal a car, package, or other thing and to bedestroyed or so defaced as to be incapable of further use when such car,package. or other thing is opened; and the object of this invention isto obtain a seal of the character named which cannot be opened withoutbreaking itthat is, which cannot be pickedto obtain a seal which isdurable and not liable to get out of order, and a seal which iseconomical in construction, of few parts, and readily closed by theoperator thereof.

In the drawings referred to as forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank cut out of sheet metal-as, say,tin-out of which the seal embodying this invention may be formed up.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank illustrated in Fig. 1 with recessesin one end thereof pressed out of the body part and with broken linesindicating the places where such blank is to be bent up to obtain apocket. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a seal embodying this invention. Fig. 4is a cross-sectional view on line 4: 4 of Fig. 3 viewed in the directionindicated by the arrows. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a spring bent up fromwire or cut out of sheet spring metal, forming an element in the sealembodying this invention, such spring being shown in Fig. 4c of thedrawings in the same position as in this Fig. 5 and shown in Figs. 6, 7,8, and?) in the several positions the spring is forced into in closingthe seal. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the seal embodying thisinvention on the same line as is Fig, 4 with the end of the ribbon partof the seal (which is provided with an aperture therethrough) partiallyinserted in the pocket in the opposite end of such ribbon part and withthe spring which is illustrated in Fig. 5 moved by the end of the ribbonpart into what may be termed the first of its actuated positions. Fig. 7is a cross-sectional view of'the seal embodying this invention on thesame line as is Fig. 4 with the same end of the ribbon part of the sealinserted farther into the pocket than in Fig. 6 and with the springwhich is illustrated in Fig. 5 thereby moved into what may be termed thesecond actuated position thereof. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view ofthe seal embodying this invention on the same line as is Fig. 4 with theend of the ribbon part of the seal which is inserted in the pocket inFigs. 6 and 7 partially drawn out again from the position thereof shownin Fig. 7, thereby moving the spring illustrated in Fig. 5 into what maybe termed the third actuated position thereof. Fig. 9 is across-sectional view of the seal embodying this invention on the sameline as is Fig. 4 with the end of the ribbon part of the seal which isinserted in the pocket in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 withdrawn from the pocketslightly more than in Fig. 8, thereby moving the spring which isillustrated in Fig. 5 into its final and locking position, therebyclosing the seal. Fig. 10 is a modification of the blank illustrated. inFig. lof the drawings. Fig. 11 is a plan View of the blank illustratedin Fig. 10 of the drawings, with recesses therein drawn up from the bodythereof and with broken lines showing where the same isbent up to obtainthe pocket of the seal. Fig. 12 is a crosssectional View on line 12 12of Fig. 11 viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 13 is.a sectional view on line 13 13 of Fig. 11 viewed in the directionindicated by the arrows. Fig. lt is a sectional view of thepocket of theseal obtained from the blank illustrated in Fig. 10 with the recess inthe walls of the pocket drawn up from the body part thereof, asillustrated in Fig. 11, and bent upon the lines indicated by brokenlines in such Fig. 11, and Fig. 15 is an additional modification of theblank illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

.In making a seal embodying this invention it has been my principalpurpose to obtain a seal having but few parts, and in Figs. 1

and 10 I have illustrated blanks by the use of which, when bent up inthe manner hereinafter described, the seal will consist of but twopartsto wit, such blank and the spring illustrated in Fig. 5 of thedrawings. When the blank illustrated in Fig. 15 is used, duplicates ofthe end of such blank which is shown in such Fig. 15 are bent up andsecured together to form the pocket of the seal. I use blanks shapedsubstantially like those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 10 of the drawingsin preference to the blank illustrated in Fig. 15 of the drawings.

The modifications illustrated in the drawings are modifications of theform of the blank by means of which the pocket of the seal is obtained.In Figs. 1 and 10 different shapes are given to the blanks and differentbends are made to obtain the pocket of the seal; but all the parts ofthe pocket are integral with the ribbon part of the seal. When the blankillustrated in Fig. 11 is used, duplicate parts are used to form thepocket of the seal, one of such duplicate parts not being integral withthe ribbon part of the seal. Whichever of the several forms of the blankwhich are illustrated is used the pocket and ribbon part of the seal arerelated in the same manner in the completed seal, and the springillustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings is located in the pocket in thesame way, all the several parts operating in the same manner and havingthe same functions.

A reference-letter applied to designate a given part is used to indicatesuch part throughout the several figures of the drawmgs.

A in Fig. 1, B in Fig. 10, and G in Fig. 15 are respectively the blanksfrom which the shell of the pocket of the seal embodying this inventionand also the ribbon portion of such seal may be obtained.

D is the ribbon part or portion of the seal, and E, Figs. 3, 4t, 6, 7,8, and 9, is the pocket of the seal.

I prefer to make a recess in the end (Z of the ribbon part I), and suchrecess is lettered F in the several figures of the drawings wherever thesame is shown.

G is a hole in the ribbon adjacent'to end (Z of such ribbon. When theseal is used, the end (Z of the ribbon I) (provided with the hole (,1?)is inserted in mouth T of the pocket E.

where it comes in contact with and is engaged by the spring H (see Fig.and is thereby maintained in such pocket, as is hereinafter more fullydescribed.

I and J are recesses in the pocket E.

Spring H is placed in recesses I J in substantially the position thereofillustrated. in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

IV hen the blank illustrated in Fig. 1 is used, the lines K K of suchblank are curved to provide material which may be taken up in forcingout the metal to form. the respective recesses I J from the bodythereof, (see Fig. 2,) and after such recesses are formed the surplusstock, if any there be remaining, is cut OH on lines L L, respectively.The blank is then bent up on lines M, M, M and M, obtaining edges N, N,and N after which the edge N is bent down (on broken lines O O) and, ifdesired, soldered in the usual manner.

In the blank, one end whereof is illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings,the curved lines K K are used to provide material to be taken. up by theforcing out of the recesses I and J from the body part thereof, andafter such recesses have been forced or formed out therefrom the blankis triml'ned, if necessary, on lines I P and P I after which the edges QQ are bent up on broken lines It R and edges Q Q are bent up on. brokenlines It R R R respectively. The blank is then bent up on broken lines SS to bring the end of the blank which is provided with the recess J overonto the part of the blank which is provided with the recess I. The edgeQ is then turned down to close contact with the body of the seal, andwhen preferred soldered in the usual manner.

Edge N in Fig. 2 and edges Q Q in Figs. 11, 12, and 14 are of a depthsubstantially equal to the thickness of the sheet-metal of which thesealis made, and the distance between the broken lines M and O in Fig. 2 andIt R in Fig. 11 is substantially twice the thickness of the metal fromwhich the seal is made, the purpose being when the several bends aremade as hereinbefore described that the sides of the pocket will beseparated from each other a distance substantially equal to thethickness of the sheet metal out of which the seal is made, and theoverlapping edges N, Fig. 2, and Q Q Figs. 11, .13, and 1 1, will be inclose contact to the side of the pocket which is adjacent thereto. IVhenso made, the end d of the ribbon I) may be readily inserted in the mouthT, Fig. at, of the pocket E, and when so inserted no space is left forthe insertion of an instrument to pick the seal.

The spring H is cut from a piece of sheet spring metal or bent up fromWire to obtain a space, as in Fig. 5, entirely surrounded by portions ofsuch spring, and the spring is placed in recesses I J of the pocket E,so that the part U of the end. (Z of the seal (the part of the sealbetween the hole G and the recess F) is automatically forced into suchspace V when the end (Z of the seal is placed in the pocket E in themanner hereinafter described and is there held by such spring. Inaddition to obtaining the space V circumscribed by the spring suchspring must be made so that as the end (i is inserted in the pocket E itwill automatically actuate such spring and also when an effort is madeto withdraw end J from the pocket the spring will again be automaticallyactuated, thereby placing part U of the ribbon in the circumscribedspace V,

and for this reason I prefer to make the spring substantially of theshape illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawingsthat is, with angles it h,angles IL 71, (obtaining arms W VV,) and angles if If, (obtaining armsWV WV.)

Then spring H, made substantially of the shape illustrated in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, is placed in the recesses I J in the pocket E of the sealand end (Z of ribbon D (provided with hole G) is inserted in the pocketE, the operation of the seal and the movement and relative position ofthe several parts of the spring H with such end of the ribbon isillustrated in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the drawings and is substantiallyas follows:

\Vhen the end (Z of the ribbon D is inserted in pocket E to about theplace illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the arms W W and hooks W Ware forced into substantially the position shown in said Fig. 6 of thedrawings by such end of the ribbon engaging with the arms WV W. Suchposition is what I have termed the first of the actuated positions ofthe spring. W/Vhen the end (Z of the ribbon is forced still farther intothe pocket E and to its extreme inward position, the spring H willassume substantially the position illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings,with the arms WV W and arms WV \V both contained in hole G of the ribbonD, as shown in such Fig. 7 of the drawings, such position being due tothe elasticity of the spring and constituting what is termed the secondactuated position thereof.

hen the end (Z of the ribbon is partially withdrawn from the positionthereof in pocket E, (illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings) the part Uof the ribbon will force the arms W \V into substantially the positionillustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, such being what has beenheretofore termed the third actuated position of the spring. As the end(Z of the ribbon D is still farther withdrawn from the pocket E the endsof arms W W will drag on the part U of the ribbon until such ends slideoff the part U, when by the resiliency of the spring such arms willassume substantially the position thereof illustrated in Fig. 9 of thedrawings, being what has been heretofore termed the final position ofthe spring, at which time the partU of the ribbon is inclosed bythe'spring, such partU being in what has been termed the space V. Theseal is then closed and cannot be opened, and the thing closed by theseal can be opened only by breaking the seal, as by cutting or tearingsuch seal.

\Vhen the blank, one end whereof is illustrated in Fig. 15, is used,duplicates of the parts forming the pocket are placed together andsecured, as by soldering or bending over one of such parts onto theother, in the ordinary way.

\\"ire which is round or rectangular in crosssection may be used to formup the spring H, as preferred.

I have described the ribbon and pocket at the end thereof as being madeof sheet metal; but it is evident that other material may be usedtherefor, if desired as, for instance, paper, papier-mich, and the like.Further,

the pocket may be made detached from the ribbon part of the seal, inwhich case such ribbon part may be provided with a hole G at both endsthereof, and by inserting both ends of the ribbon simultaneously in themouth of the pocket they will both become engaged with the spring H inthe manner hereinbefore described.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a seal, a spring turned to obtain a U- shaped part and turned atthe respective ends of such U-shaped part to extend diagonally towardopposite sides of the U-shaped part and turned at the inward ends of therespective diagonally-extending parts to return substantially parallelto such diagonally-extending parts; substantially as described.

2. In a seal,aribbon provided with a pocket at one end thereof andprovided with an aperture therethrough at the other end thereof, suchpocket provided with recesses in the respective sides thereof, incombination with a spring in the recesses, such spring turned to extendsubstantially diagonally backward from the end of one of the recessesadjacent to the mouth of the pocket across such mouth toward the otherend of the other one of the recesses and the inward ends of suchdiagonally-extending parts of the spring turned to return substantiallyparallel to the respective diagonally-extending parts; substantially asdescribed.

3. In a seal, a sheet-metal ribbon provided with a pocket at one endthereof, and provided with an aperture therethrough at the other endthereof, such pocket provided with recesses drawn from the body of itssides, in combination with a spring in the recesses,

such spring turned to extend substantially diagonally from the end ofone of the recesses I -such pocket integral with the ribbon,and s'uchpocket provided with recesses drawn from the body of the metalconstituting the sides of the pocket, and such ribbon provided with anaperture therethrough at the end thereof opposite to the pocket, incombination with a spring in the recesses of the pocket and across themouth of the pocket, such spring, at the ends thereof adjacent to themouth of the pocket end of the spring ina plane substantially par allelWith the arm and hook on the other end of the spring, such arms andhooks 1n planes substantially at right angles to the plane thesheet-metal ribbon is in; substantially as de- 10 scribed.

LEON J. CAMPBELL In presence 0f- CHARLES TURNER BROWN, 001m A. ADAMs.

